The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1905. TRAFALGAR DAY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12632, 20 October 1905, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1905. TRAFALGAR DAY.

The centenary of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson is to be celebrated throughout the empire on October 21st (to-morrow), tho hundredth anniversary of tho great battle which finally gave Great Britain the empire of the sea and crushed the naval pretensions of Napoleon. In the United Kingdom there will be demonstrations in many centres, and preparations hare been made for the fleet to take part in the celebration of one ot the proudest events in its history. A special fund of a million shillings is being raised to found a sailors' rest. Australia will also fittingly celebrate the occasion. In Melbourne the local branch of the Royal Society of St. George i 6 arranging for a great patriotic and naval demonstration in the Melbourne Town. Hall, under "the auspices of the naval and military forces of Victoria, other national '-societies aaid public bodies, and great efforts will, be put forth to make it fitting for 'the occasion. The chair will be occupied by His Excellency the State Governor, Sir Reginald Talbct, and patriotic addresses w{ll be delivered by the Prime Minister ffcf Australia (Mr Deakin), the Premier of Victoria (Mr Bent), the Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Governor (Sir JobA Madden), and the Lord Mayor of Mes. bourne (Councillor Pleasaiice), so that the meeting will be spoken to by representatives of the empire, the Commonwealth, the state, and the city. /Demonstrations by the naval forces have hifen aranged far by the director . *>f jraval: forces, and the suggestions, whicfe thfcj promoters of the meeting expect to? see adopted, will include*the conyersioii of the. platform of the Town Hall ii>to a representation of the qxiarter-deejv of tho Victory, with the old guns andf ammunition mi evidence, and a JspaV so rigged that.Nelson's signal, "England expects ©very man to do his duty,/' may be hoisted. Tho Government cji New Zealand have proclaimed to-dsiy, the 20th inst., an official holiday, in connection with the commemoration." of Trafalgar Day, and in several parts joi th© Colony the occasion will be d&jy celebrated. Locally, however, nothing is being done in the matter, and the.centenary of one of the greatest events in British history is to be allowed to pass by without any public recognition. This is certainly to be regretted. Something might, we think, have been arranged for the benefit of the school children and the cadets. The educational value of such a demonstration would have more than justified the necessary effort. As the Napier " Telegraph " very aptly puts it, the Britvh people, to whom wore secured such immense advantages by the battle of -Trafalgar, and who, to-day as then, owe their national existence to their navy, cannot afford to neglect such incentives to duty as arc-to.-be found in souvenirs of our victories at sea. The world has just witnessed what may be regarded in some senses as a greater naval triumph than even the battle of Trafalgar. Its results have once more illustrated the old story that an insular and trading Power is strong in proportion to its effective naval resources. We may safely conclude that the battle of Tsushima will be celebrated by the Japanese for tens of generations to come.